Nanowrimo 2009 (2/5)
[ EDIT ]
Synopsis -- Not sure where this is heading but will have: Anbu Kakashi and maaaaybe Anbu Iruka. Set post Pain attack. Beware, there are OCs a treading.
Word Count -- 2,126 (+ 23/12/2010 Updated: 549)
Nanowrimo Ending Word Count -- 12,095 (+549)
Part One (9,969 Words)
"Did you see Iruka-sensei? He looks so different! I wonder how Shouri-jiisan got the sizes right. And I need to stet calling him otou-san? It doesn't feel right. I mean iruka-sensei will always be Iruka-sensei to me," Naruto trailed off as he struggled out of his shirt and baring his stomach for all to see. The shirt finally released him and Naruto hastily shoved the jacket and shirt into his bag rather unceremoniously. Kakashi watched with a small amused twinkle in his eye as Naruto pulled the smaller yukata out from the chest.
Naruto grumbled about the cold winds as he wrestled into the yukata and wrapped the pale brown obi around his waist to secure the yukata in place. When Naruto had sufficiently tied and made sure the yukata wouldn't fall before turning around and folding his arms. "What do you think Kakashi-sensei?"
With a soft sigh in his mind, Kakashi wondered when today had become 'international-ask-Kakashi-what-he-thinks' day. "It looks good on you Naruto," Kakashi admitted with a smile underneath his mask, because the yukata did exactly do what he had just said. Naruto was still a little lean but the height he had gained in the last few years made the boy look rather dashing.
But he figured his compliment had fallen on deaf ears when Naruto whizzed out the door to show Iruka. He watched as the pair laughed together and felt a small pan in his chest when he realised it may be something he would never have.
Relationships outside of work was a rather awkward thing for Kakashi and he didn't possess the people skills when it came to frivolous things like dates when it came to women that were eager to get into his pants and under his mask or dinner between friends which he was subjected to on a weekly basis by Gai.
There had been an instance when Iruka had been at that particular bar surrounded by his colleagues from the mission room. Needless to say Iruka had become another honorary jounin next to Izumo and Kotetsu.
He still filed Iruka as someone who could moderately hold his liquor but seemed to pale in comparison when it came to the more heavy drinkers like Ibiki on the occasion Anko managed to lure him away from his desk. It left Kakashi to shudder when he thought at what the bait may have been.
He must have been lost in his thoughts a little longer than he had initially thouht his trip would be down memory lane. The island was getting closer even amongst the fog and Yamato had joined the rest of the shinobi at the helm of the boat. Kakashi felt his nose assaulted with the strong smell of fish and he wrinkled it with what may have been distaste.
"The land of the tides like every other part of the wave country is riddled with poverty and hunger. Don't be too distraught when you see the extent of what greed and power can do even for our neutral little town," Shouri warned as the pier pulled into view. The boy called Akito had dropped the fog jutsu and had leapt onto the rickity pier to secure the boat into place.
Their packs were lined up on the pier and the adults watched in amusement as a seething younger boy glared at Naruto who was helping his sister off the ship. Shouri led them past shallow pits of various sizes that housed a variety of sick marine animals. There were a few porpoises and a seal pup. Naruto ate up the images with his eyes hungrily, not used to all the different types of animals there was outside of Konoha.
"It's feeding time soon. Yukino, Akito why don't you teach Naruto what happens around here whilst I make some tea. Come, there are still some things I need to discuss with you."
As the children ran off to feed the animals, Shouri shepherded them into his homely kitchen. The room was filled with various pictures of animals and Iruka spied a small postcard of the Hokage monument tucked behind a large photo of a whale.
"Sit whilst I put the kettle on." Shouri bustled about the kitchen, procuring cups from cupboards and tea leaves from a tin. Iruka rearranged his yukata and sat at the table. Yamato joined him and gave him a smirk. Iruka hadn't seen Yamato outside of the mission room and was rather unsure as to what kind of look he usually carried about when he was off duty. When he had the opportunities to meet up with Kakashi, the Jounin had always looked the same. It lead Iruka to believe he had multiples of the standard Konoha ninja uniform in his wardrobe. He smiled in turn and thanked Shouri as he set a cup of steaming hot tea in front of him.
"This village has been attacked by bandits so don't expect too much. We also happen to be in the best position geographically for all sorts of rubbish to end up on our shores over night," Shouri trailed off as he set similar coloured mugs in front of Kakashi and Yamato.
"There's roughly a thousand or so people living here, probably triple that number are here underground and illegally. To the west closer to the hills lies the red light district, east is the quarry and the fisheries. You can most probably see the north is where those that aren't meant to be here live. We already have our own problems so really, no one has the funds to help them out."
A map was procured of the island seemingly out of thin air and the corners were trapped underneath four hot mugs of tea. "S-corp has made their building naturally in the north. What authorities would go in there voluntarily? They have a few offices dotting the island. Yukino and Akito found the majority of them, but I couldn't risk them getting caught. I'm afraid their power is spreading." Shouri's face looked grim and Iruka cupped his hands around the warm mug. A small silence spread between the men.
"The island doesn't have any official ruler, but I can wager S-corp has their men in a few positions of power. It will be easy for you to get in, but extremely hard to get out. Iruka, Kakashi, I wish I had more information, but this is all I could come up with in the short time I had. I think I've covered everything. The island itself doesn't get much news of the outside world, so Naruto-kun will be safe. Stop worrying so much Iruka." Shouri laughed at the glare he received from his ex-student and brought his cup to his lips and drank.
"So Tenzou-kun. I was awfully surprised to see you on this mission. Things didn't work out with that woman you were seeing?" A blush spread over Yamato's cheeks, a shade that even Iruka hadn't even managed to pull and the room was filled with Shouri's hearty laughter.
"Sh-Shouri-san. There are parts of my life that I would like to move on from. She just happens - happened - to be part of it. My past that is," Yamato coughed and sipped his tea a little too fast for it scalded his tongue. Iruka was immediately patting the poor man's back, knowing how it felt. There were time where unrequited love could hurt, like every other classic case of love in that category.
The four men sat in a comfortable silence, with the occasional wince from Yamato as memories seemed to come rushing forward from a wound he thought had long since healed. The silence was broken when the teenagers walked in, each with varying degrees of mirth and mischief upon their faces. Iruka raised an eyebrow at the wet state that Naruto seemed to be in.
"I fell in accidentally," Naruto explained to the giggling that erupted from the pale-haired siblings behind him. Iruka tutted at him and Akito pulled him upstairs to get changed. Yukino smiled at the men and began to roll up her sleeves. "I'll get started on dinner then," she announced. Iruka offered to help but was declined. "You're our guest Iruka-San. I couldn't possibly accept your help."
Dinner was quickly prepared and more tea was brewed. Naruto and Akito wandered back down after Naruto had changed into a pair of shorts and a loose fitting shirt that seemed more befit the loud ninja. Light banter had started up between Iruka and Shouri who looked like the cat had gotten the canary. Naruto stared incredulously whilst the younger boy just raised an eyebrow.
"You know perfectly well never to bring up that mission ever again Shouri-san. It is rather embarrassing. I know it has been a while since you've had such good company but please be reminded that we are on a mission," Iruka ground out between clenched teeth as his cheeks flared up to quite a dashing colour of pink. "Honestly! You're worse than my academy classes sometimes."
Naruto smirked to himself and sat down next to Iruka, very intrigued at this conversation. "Only sometimes? But Shouri-jiisan has to have been really great right?" Kakashi laughed at the statement and shook his head in mirth that made his silver hair quiver from their gravity defying acts.
"That depends on your definition of greatness, Naruto," Yamato had replied rather solemnly. It was true. There were some things that the Anbu did that wasn't even remotely humane. It was certainly a life that he hoped Naruto would never undertake, especially when his supposed creepy look could still unnerve the blonde.
When dinner was ready the table became a bit of a squeeze. Though it didn't seem to matter when Kakashi finished at the speed of light, his mask pulled down and up within a blink of the eye. It was Iruka's first time experiencing such a feat and he stared in awe, his chopsticks only partway up to his mouth. He wasn't the only one either with Akito staring unashamedly as he was.
"H-How is that possible? Don't you get indigestion Kakashi-sensei?" Akito blurted out as he kept staring. Kakashi smiled easily, his eye arched as he made a small noise in the back of his throat.
Akito's outburst became a cue for Naruto's wild stories at what truly could lay behind that mask. The two boys ogled at the only Konoha ninja in uniform as their wild imaginations took them to the realms of fish lips, moustaches gone wrong and a hideous case of a mysterious rash.
Yukino elbowed her brother gracefully as she refilled Yamato's bowl of rice causing him to yelp in surprise and scowl over his wounds. Iruka chuckled to himself and enjoyed his dinner. It was better than field ration bars anyday. How jounin survived on them was beyond him.
There was numerous tasty fishy dishes, for Iruka knew the markets here weren't as lively or as fertile as the ones back in Konoha. If he had known, Iruka would have bought more than just a loaf of bread for lunch. Dinner was polished off with light talk and Iruka insisted on doing the dishes instead which then set Naruto into helping as Iruka's little drying helper.
"Akito, go show our guests where they'll be staying. Yuki and I will settle the patients for bed. The clinic is that white building over there. If you need me, I'll be staying there since we don't really have the room to house you all here and I won't be hearing your complaints Iruka. I practically live over in my office anyway." Shouri got up and poured some left over tea into a thermos, the duo leaving them to tend to their animal friends.
The pale blue haired boy ran fingers through his fringe and followed the cue from Shouri. "C'mon. I'll show you'll be staying. Naruto-kun with onee-san and me in her room and sensei's will be staying in my room," he explained the living conditions and pointed out the bathroom on the way to the rooms where their packs already sat upon neatly laid out futons. The men thanked him and watched as Naruto and Akito disappeared into the room across the hall.
Kakashi walked the threshold and went to the window peering into the streets below. There was hardly a soul outside, the only light coming from the moon and through the window of a few houses further down the road that sparsely dotted the side of the road. "It’s too quiet out there. Even for a town like this one, there should be more people. Is this the result of having an organisation like the S Corporation taking over towns?”
He watched as Iruka joined him, a broad shoulder leaning against the other side of the window pane. Iruka looked forlornly at the quiet and entirely too dark streets below. "You have more experience in this area than I do. It is entirely saddening that it is the bureaucracy and greed that has lead this and many other towns like it to shambles." Iruka didn't voice the concerns that even in the event that S Corp was able to be stopped, the people on this island were not any better off than before. Some things didn't need to be said after all. He hesitated as he watched the penseive look on Kakashi's face, wondering if now was an appropriate time to apologise about the infamous disagreement they had at the Chuunin Exam.
"Iruka-sensei. I wish to apologise for my conduct at the Chuunin examination," Kakashi spoke before Iruka could begin to wonder about his phrasing, "You were correct. If only..." Kakashi left the sentence hanging knowing that Iruka could easily fill in the blanks whether it be related to Sasuke's path for vengeance or the subsequent dissolving of Team Seven. Iruka could see even after so long the wound was still raw and he laid a hand on the jounin's shoulder. After all, Sasuke was his past student also and although he had never seen the boy grow as a genin; Iruka could empathise.
He withdrew his hand, feeling it may have been slightly inappropriate to do he touchy and feely thing with one of, if not the, best nin from Konoha. Kakashi hadn't seemed to mind. "I'm sure he will come around. If Naruto has anything to say about it. Don't think it is just your fault Kakashi-sensei. The future has yet to be paved and there is still much we can do," Iruka let out a yawn that he stifled with the back of his hand and smiled tiredly at his reflection, watching as Yamato returned in one of the sleeping yukatas that Shouri had provided. "Dear me, it has been quite a run from Konoha. I should wash before I fall asleep in the shower. Sleep well Kakashi-sensei." Iruka moved away from the window and picked up one of the sleeping yukata, leaving the two men alone with their thoughts.
Kakashi didn't move as he kept up his silent watch of the streets below, his mind clearly elsewhere. The serious look on his face didn't deter Yamato from joining Kakashi at the window. "A hundred ryo for your thoughts Kakashi-taichou?" Kakashi didn't answer and didn't move when Iruka returned. Yamato nodded and he moved to help unfold the futons. The room was quiet, though the occasional excited shout came from the room opposite the hall followed by giggling.
Iruka hesitated in climbing into his futon and looked over at Yamato who seemed terribly carefree as he settled in for the night sending what Iruka thought was a "don't worry about him" look. It would have worked if it didn't look like his everyday face. He slipped between the blankets and between the quiet darkness and Yamato's even breathing, Iruka found himself settling into mission sleep mode. Not quiet fulfilling in entering a deep restorative sleep but sufficient enough to replenish the energy expended from his tired muscles. Those weekend missions was nothing like running on the tail feathers of ospreys over treetops and snow.
Synopsis -- Not sure where this is heading but will have: Anbu Kakashi and maaaaybe Anbu Iruka. Set post Pain attack. Beware, there are OCs a treading.
Word Count -- 2,126 (+ 23/12/2010 Updated: 549)
Nanowrimo Ending Word Count -- 12,095 (+549)
Part One (9,969 Words)
"Did you see Iruka-sensei? He looks so different! I wonder how Shouri-jiisan got the sizes right. And I need to stet calling him otou-san? It doesn't feel right. I mean iruka-sensei will always be Iruka-sensei to me," Naruto trailed off as he struggled out of his shirt and baring his stomach for all to see. The shirt finally released him and Naruto hastily shoved the jacket and shirt into his bag rather unceremoniously. Kakashi watched with a small amused twinkle in his eye as Naruto pulled the smaller yukata out from the chest.
Naruto grumbled about the cold winds as he wrestled into the yukata and wrapped the pale brown obi around his waist to secure the yukata in place. When Naruto had sufficiently tied and made sure the yukata wouldn't fall before turning around and folding his arms. "What do you think Kakashi-sensei?"
With a soft sigh in his mind, Kakashi wondered when today had become 'international-ask-Kakashi-what-he-thinks' day. "It looks good on you Naruto," Kakashi admitted with a smile underneath his mask, because the yukata did exactly do what he had just said. Naruto was still a little lean but the height he had gained in the last few years made the boy look rather dashing.
But he figured his compliment had fallen on deaf ears when Naruto whizzed out the door to show Iruka. He watched as the pair laughed together and felt a small pan in his chest when he realised it may be something he would never have.
Relationships outside of work was a rather awkward thing for Kakashi and he didn't possess the people skills when it came to frivolous things like dates when it came to women that were eager to get into his pants and under his mask or dinner between friends which he was subjected to on a weekly basis by Gai.
There had been an instance when Iruka had been at that particular bar surrounded by his colleagues from the mission room. Needless to say Iruka had become another honorary jounin next to Izumo and Kotetsu.
He still filed Iruka as someone who could moderately hold his liquor but seemed to pale in comparison when it came to the more heavy drinkers like Ibiki on the occasion Anko managed to lure him away from his desk. It left Kakashi to shudder when he thought at what the bait may have been.
He must have been lost in his thoughts a little longer than he had initially thouht his trip would be down memory lane. The island was getting closer even amongst the fog and Yamato had joined the rest of the shinobi at the helm of the boat. Kakashi felt his nose assaulted with the strong smell of fish and he wrinkled it with what may have been distaste.
"The land of the tides like every other part of the wave country is riddled with poverty and hunger. Don't be too distraught when you see the extent of what greed and power can do even for our neutral little town," Shouri warned as the pier pulled into view. The boy called Akito had dropped the fog jutsu and had leapt onto the rickity pier to secure the boat into place.
Their packs were lined up on the pier and the adults watched in amusement as a seething younger boy glared at Naruto who was helping his sister off the ship. Shouri led them past shallow pits of various sizes that housed a variety of sick marine animals. There were a few porpoises and a seal pup. Naruto ate up the images with his eyes hungrily, not used to all the different types of animals there was outside of Konoha.
"It's feeding time soon. Yukino, Akito why don't you teach Naruto what happens around here whilst I make some tea. Come, there are still some things I need to discuss with you."
As the children ran off to feed the animals, Shouri shepherded them into his homely kitchen. The room was filled with various pictures of animals and Iruka spied a small postcard of the Hokage monument tucked behind a large photo of a whale.
"Sit whilst I put the kettle on." Shouri bustled about the kitchen, procuring cups from cupboards and tea leaves from a tin. Iruka rearranged his yukata and sat at the table. Yamato joined him and gave him a smirk. Iruka hadn't seen Yamato outside of the mission room and was rather unsure as to what kind of look he usually carried about when he was off duty. When he had the opportunities to meet up with Kakashi, the Jounin had always looked the same. It lead Iruka to believe he had multiples of the standard Konoha ninja uniform in his wardrobe. He smiled in turn and thanked Shouri as he set a cup of steaming hot tea in front of him.
"This village has been attacked by bandits so don't expect too much. We also happen to be in the best position geographically for all sorts of rubbish to end up on our shores over night," Shouri trailed off as he set similar coloured mugs in front of Kakashi and Yamato.
"There's roughly a thousand or so people living here, probably triple that number are here underground and illegally. To the west closer to the hills lies the red light district, east is the quarry and the fisheries. You can most probably see the north is where those that aren't meant to be here live. We already have our own problems so really, no one has the funds to help them out."
A map was procured of the island seemingly out of thin air and the corners were trapped underneath four hot mugs of tea. "S-corp has made their building naturally in the north. What authorities would go in there voluntarily? They have a few offices dotting the island. Yukino and Akito found the majority of them, but I couldn't risk them getting caught. I'm afraid their power is spreading." Shouri's face looked grim and Iruka cupped his hands around the warm mug. A small silence spread between the men.
"The island doesn't have any official ruler, but I can wager S-corp has their men in a few positions of power. It will be easy for you to get in, but extremely hard to get out. Iruka, Kakashi, I wish I had more information, but this is all I could come up with in the short time I had. I think I've covered everything. The island itself doesn't get much news of the outside world, so Naruto-kun will be safe. Stop worrying so much Iruka." Shouri laughed at the glare he received from his ex-student and brought his cup to his lips and drank.
"So Tenzou-kun. I was awfully surprised to see you on this mission. Things didn't work out with that woman you were seeing?" A blush spread over Yamato's cheeks, a shade that even Iruka hadn't even managed to pull and the room was filled with Shouri's hearty laughter.
"Sh-Shouri-san. There are parts of my life that I would like to move on from. She just happens - happened - to be part of it. My past that is," Yamato coughed and sipped his tea a little too fast for it scalded his tongue. Iruka was immediately patting the poor man's back, knowing how it felt. There were time where unrequited love could hurt, like every other classic case of love in that category.
The four men sat in a comfortable silence, with the occasional wince from Yamato as memories seemed to come rushing forward from a wound he thought had long since healed. The silence was broken when the teenagers walked in, each with varying degrees of mirth and mischief upon their faces. Iruka raised an eyebrow at the wet state that Naruto seemed to be in.
"I fell in accidentally," Naruto explained to the giggling that erupted from the pale-haired siblings behind him. Iruka tutted at him and Akito pulled him upstairs to get changed. Yukino smiled at the men and began to roll up her sleeves. "I'll get started on dinner then," she announced. Iruka offered to help but was declined. "You're our guest Iruka-San. I couldn't possibly accept your help."
Dinner was quickly prepared and more tea was brewed. Naruto and Akito wandered back down after Naruto had changed into a pair of shorts and a loose fitting shirt that seemed more befit the loud ninja. Light banter had started up between Iruka and Shouri who looked like the cat had gotten the canary. Naruto stared incredulously whilst the younger boy just raised an eyebrow.
"You know perfectly well never to bring up that mission ever again Shouri-san. It is rather embarrassing. I know it has been a while since you've had such good company but please be reminded that we are on a mission," Iruka ground out between clenched teeth as his cheeks flared up to quite a dashing colour of pink. "Honestly! You're worse than my academy classes sometimes."
Naruto smirked to himself and sat down next to Iruka, very intrigued at this conversation. "Only sometimes? But Shouri-jiisan has to have been really great right?" Kakashi laughed at the statement and shook his head in mirth that made his silver hair quiver from their gravity defying acts.
"That depends on your definition of greatness, Naruto," Yamato had replied rather solemnly. It was true. There were some things that the Anbu did that wasn't even remotely humane. It was certainly a life that he hoped Naruto would never undertake, especially when his supposed creepy look could still unnerve the blonde.
When dinner was ready the table became a bit of a squeeze. Though it didn't seem to matter when Kakashi finished at the speed of light, his mask pulled down and up within a blink of the eye. It was Iruka's first time experiencing such a feat and he stared in awe, his chopsticks only partway up to his mouth. He wasn't the only one either with Akito staring unashamedly as he was.
"H-How is that possible? Don't you get indigestion Kakashi-sensei?" Akito blurted out as he kept staring. Kakashi smiled easily, his eye arched as he made a small noise in the back of his throat.
Akito's outburst became a cue for Naruto's wild stories at what truly could lay behind that mask. The two boys ogled at the only Konoha ninja in uniform as their wild imaginations took them to the realms of fish lips, moustaches gone wrong and a hideous case of a mysterious rash.
Yukino elbowed her brother gracefully as she refilled Yamato's bowl of rice causing him to yelp in surprise and scowl over his wounds. Iruka chuckled to himself and enjoyed his dinner. It was better than field ration bars anyday. How jounin survived on them was beyond him.
There was numerous tasty fishy dishes, for Iruka knew the markets here weren't as lively or as fertile as the ones back in Konoha. If he had known, Iruka would have bought more than just a loaf of bread for lunch. Dinner was polished off with light talk and Iruka insisted on doing the dishes instead which then set Naruto into helping as Iruka's little drying helper.
"Akito, go show our guests where they'll be staying. Yuki and I will settle the patients for bed. The clinic is that white building over there. If you need me, I'll be staying there since we don't really have the room to house you all here and I won't be hearing your complaints Iruka. I practically live over in my office anyway." Shouri got up and poured some left over tea into a thermos, the duo leaving them to tend to their animal friends.
The pale blue haired boy ran fingers through his fringe and followed the cue from Shouri. "C'mon. I'll show you'll be staying. Naruto-kun with onee-san and me in her room and sensei's will be staying in my room," he explained the living conditions and pointed out the bathroom on the way to the rooms where their packs already sat upon neatly laid out futons. The men thanked him and watched as Naruto and Akito disappeared into the room across the hall.
Kakashi walked the threshold and went to the window peering into the streets below. There was hardly a soul outside, the only light coming from the moon and through the window of a few houses further down the road that sparsely dotted the side of the road. "It’s too quiet out there. Even for a town like this one, there should be more people. Is this the result of having an organisation like the S Corporation taking over towns?”
He watched as Iruka joined him, a broad shoulder leaning against the other side of the window pane. Iruka looked forlornly at the quiet and entirely too dark streets below. "You have more experience in this area than I do. It is entirely saddening that it is the bureaucracy and greed that has lead this and many other towns like it to shambles." Iruka didn't voice the concerns that even in the event that S Corp was able to be stopped, the people on this island were not any better off than before. Some things didn't need to be said after all. He hesitated as he watched the penseive look on Kakashi's face, wondering if now was an appropriate time to apologise about the infamous disagreement they had at the Chuunin Exam.
"Iruka-sensei. I wish to apologise for my conduct at the Chuunin examination," Kakashi spoke before Iruka could begin to wonder about his phrasing, "You were correct. If only..." Kakashi left the sentence hanging knowing that Iruka could easily fill in the blanks whether it be related to Sasuke's path for vengeance or the subsequent dissolving of Team Seven. Iruka could see even after so long the wound was still raw and he laid a hand on the jounin's shoulder. After all, Sasuke was his past student also and although he had never seen the boy grow as a genin; Iruka could empathise.
He withdrew his hand, feeling it may have been slightly inappropriate to do he touchy and feely thing with one of, if not the, best nin from Konoha. Kakashi hadn't seemed to mind. "I'm sure he will come around. If Naruto has anything to say about it. Don't think it is just your fault Kakashi-sensei. The future has yet to be paved and there is still much we can do," Iruka let out a yawn that he stifled with the back of his hand and smiled tiredly at his reflection, watching as Yamato returned in one of the sleeping yukatas that Shouri had provided. "Dear me, it has been quite a run from Konoha. I should wash before I fall asleep in the shower. Sleep well Kakashi-sensei." Iruka moved away from the window and picked up one of the sleeping yukata, leaving the two men alone with their thoughts.
Kakashi didn't move as he kept up his silent watch of the streets below, his mind clearly elsewhere. The serious look on his face didn't deter Yamato from joining Kakashi at the window. "A hundred ryo for your thoughts Kakashi-taichou?" Kakashi didn't answer and didn't move when Iruka returned. Yamato nodded and he moved to help unfold the futons. The room was quiet, though the occasional excited shout came from the room opposite the hall followed by giggling.
Iruka hesitated in climbing into his futon and looked over at Yamato who seemed terribly carefree as he settled in for the night sending what Iruka thought was a "don't worry about him" look. It would have worked if it didn't look like his everyday face. He slipped between the blankets and between the quiet darkness and Yamato's even breathing, Iruka found himself settling into mission sleep mode. Not quiet fulfilling in entering a deep restorative sleep but sufficient enough to replenish the energy expended from his tired muscles. Those weekend missions was nothing like running on the tail feathers of ospreys over treetops and snow.